Brian Cowen, Taoiseach since 2008, was becoming emotional, especially after Eamon Gilmore accused him of being an 'economic traitor' who was issuing blank cheques to Anglo Irish Bank and other (Gilmore claims) Fianna Fail allies.

Enda Kenny recalled a languorous private dinner Brian shared with Sean FitzPatrick, Fintan Drury and the Anglo Irish board, just before he became Taoiseach. An International Monetary Fund report on Cowen's desk warned that Ireland's property boom was ending. Yet they all ate cake.

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